A03611:473
The Soul's Preparation for Christ
The souls preparation for Christ. Or, A treatise of contrition Wherein is discovered how God breaks the heart and wounds the soul, in the conversion of a sinner to Himself.The soules preparation for Christ. Or, A treatise of contrition Wherein is discovered how God breaks the heart and wounds the soule, in the conversion of a sinner to Himselfe.
London: printed by M. Flesher for Robert Dawlman, 1632London: printed by M. Flesher for Robert Davvlman, 1632
THE SOULS PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.THE SOVLES PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As we use to have a nest egg to breed upon, so it is the Devils cunning to leave a nest egg, some bosom lust or other in thy soul, and the ⟨p. 237⟩Devil sits upon this same, as upon a nest egg: and when the Devil is cast out by a slight overly confession of your sins, yet there is some secret lust still left in the heart, and that will breed a thousand abominations more in you. For (I beseech you take notice of this) the Devil returns and brings seven Devils more then himself, and he hatcheth seven times more uncleannesses then there was before: therefore as you desire that Satan may not fill your hearts, and as you desire to have any means blessed to you; come off kindly and currently, either not confess at all, or else confess currently, that you may find mercy in the time of need.
As wee use to have a neast egge to breed upon, so it is the Devils cunning to leave a neast egge, some bosome lust or other in thy soule, and the ⟨p. 237⟩Devill sits upon this same, as upon a neast egge: and when the Devill is cast out by a slight overly confession of your sinnes, yet there is some secret lust still left in the heart, and that will breed a thousand abominations more in you. For (I beseech you take notice of this) the Devill returnes and brings seven Devils more then himselfe, and he hatcheth seven times more uncleannesses then there was before: therefore as you desire that Satan may not fill your hearts, and as you desire to have any meanes blessed to you; come off kindly and currantly, eyther not confesse at all, or else confesse currantly, that you may finde mercy in the time of need.
The second Use is for Instruction,1 to show us, that a broken hearted sinner is easily convicted of his sins, and willing to under-go any reproof; he that will confess his sins freely of himself, will easily yield when he is called upon to do it. If the word lay any thing to his charge, he will not deny it, a man need not bring any witnesses against him: he will never seek to cover his sin, but if any occasional passage of speech come, that may discover his sin, he takes it presently, and yields to it, and saith, I am the man, I confess, this is my sin and my folly: he doth not fence his heart against the truth.